Three New Members Seated

A change of the guard seated three new members Tuesday night on the East Tawakoni City Council.

Johnnie LaPrade, Pam Patterson and Walt Pollard took the oath of office that installed them into two-year terms. Municipal Court Judge Joe Craig administered the oath.

Outgoing council members Bobbie Harman, Mark Himelright and Pam Whitfield attended and took their places in the audience after oaths were taken by the new members.

LaPrade was elected mayor protem by the new council and was the only nominee. She was installed by a vote of 4-1 with Councilwoman Tamera McLaughlin abstaining from the vote.

A lengthy discussion was held on a proposal by McLaughlin that the $250 fee collected by the city for mowing lots as a result of code enforcement be split between the water department and code enforcement. The entire fee had previously been paid to the water department.

McLaughlin said she felt code enforcement should have half the fee for the work performed by the city department. Councilman Pollard questioned whether the department should be reimbursed for work it was paid to do in the first place.

He answered McLaughlin’s objection to the water department’s payment of the entire amount by asking if code enforcement did not receive money from the city budget.

McLaughlin countered that the additional funds would allow additional hours for code enforcement to work.

Utilities Director Dossie Smith objected to the 50-50 split on the basis of the costs incurred in machinery, gas and manpower in completing the mowing jobs.

Pollard asked Smith if he would agree to a 25 percent split to code enforcement to which Smith concurred.

The council voted unanimously to approve the split.

McLaughlin also asked for an item to be placed on the agenda to raise the mowing fee from $250 to $300.

Mayor Buster Thomas said he did not think the city could collect the increased fee.

Councilwoman LaPrade said she had contacted the other nearby cities and discovered the $250 fee charged by East Tawakoni was already the most expensive charged by any local city.

Councilman Lynn Wallace suggested that the fee be left as it was until the next budget when it could be reconsidered.

LaPrade indicated she felt the fee should remain as it was and noted that East Tawakoni was the only one of the local cities that performed its own mowing. She said the others contracted with lawn services.

In reference to the higher fee, Thomas said, "We do not need that." Pollard also indicated that he did not feel the fee should be raised.

The council voted unanimously to keep the fee at $250.

• Approval was given to a computerized radio system for police cars. The city will pay $9.95 for each of four cars per month as well as a fee of $60 per month for radio frequency acquisition. Chief of Police Rick South it was a good tool for police and would allow for immediate notice of stolen vehicles, Amber alerts and on other situations of which the police should be aware.

The council voted 4-1 with LaPrade voting against. However she noted that she would have changed her vote if she had been provided additional information prior to calling the vote.

• Yard placards were approved by the council for lots in which letters had been sent to owners by code enforcement regarding mowing offenses. South said the signs would help in cases when the owners could not be located but neighbors might notify offenders if a placard was located in the yard.

• No action was taken on another agenda item by McLaughlin on new appointments to the Planning and Zoning Board. Others indicated that the former members should be contacted on their willingness to remain on the board before contacting prospective members.

• The council voted unanimously to increase City Secretary Linda Mitchell’s salary since she had completed the probationary period. Mayor Thomas noted that Mitchell "has done a helluva job."

• All incoming and outgoing members of the council were present.

• Citizen concerns included comments from a new resident on the state of the park. He volunteered to help with maintenance. Pollard has provided volunteer work for the park upkeep and had been working throughout the last week mowing. He said additional manpower and equipment were welcome by anyone who wished to volunteer. Pollard said equipment that he did not have was needed to work close to the water’s edge.

Court Secretary Sue Woodall announced that interest had been expressed by individuals in renting the boat spaces at the park.

• After the meeting adjourned, City Secretary Mitchell presented Mayor Thomas with a birthday cake that was served to those present along with punch.